Thanthai Chelva remembered on his 112th Birthday in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 31 March 2010, 15:09 GMT]Jaffna Bishop of South Indian Diocese, Rt. Rev. Jebanesan, the president of Thanthai Chelva Trustee Board, garlanded the statue of late leader Mr. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, located in the Chelva mausoleum in Jaffna town Wednesday around 9:30 a.m, in the first event of the day in remembering Thanthai Chelva on his 112th birthday. Mr. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, founder of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK), fondly called by Tamils as "Thanthai" (father), was remembered by several others who turned up later to garland the statue and offer flowers at its feet, sources in Jaffna said.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) candidates contesting Jaffna electorate along with their supporters participated in the first event of the day.

Later, V. Anandasangari, the leader of Tamil United Liberation Front, came to Thanthai Chelva mausoleum along with his followers and garlanded Thanthai Chelva’s statue.

S. J. V’s long time friend, Sathasivam, now an elderly man, who had not failed to offer flowers to Thanthai Chelva’s statue on each birthday, even during the war, also paid his respects Wednesday.

Parliamentary election campaigning in Jaffna having gained momentum, many circles in the fray too paid their respects to Thanthai Chelva’s statue with flowers and garlands.